(Kenosha County Sheriff)
PADDOCK LAKE, Wis. — A 54-year-old Paddock Lake man has been charged with felony strangulation and elder abuse after allegedly attacking his 66-year-old neighbor during a property line dispute on June 15 in the Village of Paddock Lake.
Richard K. Ruck faces three charges: physical abuse of an elder person, strangulation and suffocation, and disorderly conduct. The criminal complaint, filed June 17 in Kenosha County Circuit Court, details a long-running feud between Ruck and his neighbor, culminating in a violent altercation during a fence installation.
According to the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Ruck’s property on 69th Street after simultaneous 911 calls — one from Ruck’s daughter, claiming the neighbor had attacked her father, and one from the neighbor, alleging Ruck had choked him.
Deputies found the older man visibly shaken, with redness on his neck, a cut near his eye, and scrapes to his knees and elbows. He told investigators that Ruck pushed him down, punched him, and held him in a chokehold that left him dizzy and unable to breathe. The alleged attack reportedly ended only after family members intervened.
Photographs from trail cameras and a cellphone were provided to deputies, showing Ruck working on what the neighbor claims is his side of the property line.
Ruck admitted to pushing the man and holding him in a headlock but said he was trying to “gain control” of the situation. He denied punching the neighbor and claimed he was never struck himself.
Deputies documented a history of disputes between the two neighbors, including prior complaints of trespassing, confrontations, and warnings issued by law enforcement. In one previous incident, deputies told Ruck he was not allowed on the neighboring property and could be subject to further action if it happened again.
Ruck has been issued a summons to appear in court on July 15 for his initial appearance. If convicted, he faces up to 12 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for the felony charges, plus up to 90 days for the misdemeanor.
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